• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.423-430
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• 2016

Background: The induction of cellular defensive genes such as phase II detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes is a highly effective strategy for protection against carcinogenesis as well as slowing cancer development. Transcription factor Nrf2 (nuclear factor E2-related factor 2) is responsible for activation of phase II enzymes induced by natural chemopreventive compounds. Methods: Red ginseng oil (RGO) was extracted using a supercritical $CO_2$ extraction system and chemical profile of RGO was investigated by GC/MS. Effects of RGO on regulation of the Nrf2/antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway were determined by ARE-luciferase assay, western blotting, and confocal microscopy. Results: The predominant components of RGO were 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (31.48%), bicyclo[10.1.0] tridec-1-ene (22.54%), and 22,23-dihydrostigmasterol (16.90%). RGO treatment significantly increased nuclear translocation of Nrf2 as well as ARE reporter gene activity, leading to upregulation of heme oxygenase-1 and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1. Phosphorylation of the upstream kinases such as apoptosis signal-regulating kinase (ASK)1, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase (MKK)4/7, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 MAPK were enhanced by treatment with RGO. In addition, RGO-mediated Nrf2 expression and nuclear translocation was attenuated by JNK inhibitor SP600125 and p38 MAPK inhibitor SB202190. Conclusion: RGO could be used as a potential chemopreventive agent, possibly by induction of Nrf2/ARE-mediated phase II enzymes via ASK1-MKK4/7-JNK and p38 MAPK signaling pathways.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.428-431
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• 1997

Chemical components of red algae (Gelidium amansii, Gracilaria verrucosa, Gigartina tenella, Carpopeltis cornea, Plocamium ovicornis, Callophyllis adnata, Lomentaria hakodatensis, Gymnogongrus flabelliformis, Chondrus pinnulatus, Adinotrichia fragilis, Gloipeltis tenax and Campylaephora hypnaeoides) were examined. The contents of carbohydrate, ash, crude protein and fat in dried red algae are $40.38\~69.88\%,\;8.57\~30.23\%,\;18.11\~33.90\%\;and\;0.11\~0.90\%$ on dry base, respectively. Yields of water-soluble compound in dried red algae and contents of sulfate in water-soluble compound extracted red algae were $4.32\~55.78\%\;and\;1.65\~19.48\%$, respectively. The principal sugars of water-soluble compound extracted from red algae were galactose, 3, 6-anhydrogalactose, glucose and xylose.

• Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
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• 1987.07a
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• pp.133-148
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• 1987

Gibberellin(GA) 3-$\beta$ hydroxylation is very important for the shoot elogation in the higher plants, since only 3$\beta$-hydryoxylated GAs promote shoot elogation in several plants. Fluctuation of 3$\beta$-hydryoxylase activity was examined during seed maturation using two cultivars of , P. vulgaris, Kentucky Wonder (normal) and Masterpiece (dwarf). Very immature seeds of both cultivars contain high level of 3$\beta$-hydroxylase activity (per mg protein). Both cultivars showed maximum of enzyme activity (per seed) in the middle of their maturation process. Gibberellin 3$\beta$-hydroxylase catalyzing the hydroxylation of GA20 to GA1 was purified 313-fold from very early immature seeds of P. vulgaris. Crude soluble enzyme extracts were purified by 15% methanol precipitation, hydrophobic interaction chromatogrphy, DEAE ion exchange column chromatography and gel filtration HPLC. The 3$\beta$-hydroxylase activity was unstable and lost much of its activity duting the purification. The molecular weight of purified enzyme was extimated to be 42, 000 by gel filtration HPLC and SDS-PAGE. The enzyme exhibited maximum activity at pH 7.7. The Km values for [2.3-3H] GA20 and [2.3-3H]GA9 were 0.29 $\mu$M and 0.33 $\mu$M, respectively. The enzyme requires 2-oxoglutarate as a cosubstrate; the Km value for 2-oxoglutarate was 250 $\mu$M using 3H GA20 as a substrate. Fe2+ and ascorbate significantly activated the enzyme at all purification steps, while catalase and BSA activated the purified enzyme only. The enzyme was inhibited by divalent cations Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+ and Hg2+. Effects of several GAs and GA anaogues on the putrified 3$\beta$-hydroxylase were examined using [3H]GA9 and GA20 as a substrates. Among them, GA5, GA9, GA15, GA20 and GA44 inhibited the enzyme activity. [13C, 3H] GA20 was converted by the partially purified enzyme preparation to [13C, 3H]GA1, GA5 and GA6, which were identified by GC-MS, GA9 was converted only GA4, GA15 and GA44 were converted to GA37 and GA38, respectively. GA5 was epoxidized to GA6 by the preparation. This suggests that 3$\beta$-hydroxylation of GA20 and epoxidation of GA5 are catalyzed by the same enzyme in P, vulgaris.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.289-292
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• 2018

Using pyrene as the enrichment nutrient, a bacterial strain 10PY1A, was isolated by enrichment culture from oil-contaminated sea sand of Arabian Gulf in Saudi Arabia, and this strain belongs to the species Idiomarina piscisalsi, based on 16S RNA gene sequence analysis. The genome of I. piscisalsi strain 10PY1A contains 2,346 protein-coding sequences and an average GC content of 47.4% in its chromosome (2.59 Mbp). Genes encoding proteins related to the degradation of pyrene were existed in the strain 10PY1A genome, indicating that this strain can be used to degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in oil-contaminated marine flora and soil.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 2009

In earlier investigations, seeds of Perilla frutescens(L.) Britt. cv. Chookyoupjaso were irradiated with 200 Gy gamma ray to generate mutagenesis. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a hexane extract from Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. cv. Chookyoupjaso mutant 45 on the actions of anti-inflammatory activity on inducible nitric oxide synthase, and an identification of the major active compound. The hexane extract from P. frutescens exhibited activity of inhibition of a NO production ($IC_{50}$, $295.1{\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$). The hexane extract was further divided into subfractions by silica-gel chromatogarphy. Inhibition of the NO production by various fractions was assayed in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Among the seven fractions, the 5th fraction was the most effective ($IC_{50}$, $19.5{\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$). The 5th fraction suppressed the expression of protein of iNOS in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, and GC/MS analyses showed that isoegomaketone is a major bio-active compound in the 5th fraction. The result indicated that isoegomaketone has a good potential to be developed as an anti-inflammation agent.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.525-535
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• 2021

This study identified material properties through scientific analysis on Jikgeumdan(satin with gold threads) from Donggungbi-Wonsam and the gold threads used in the embroidery. The Donggungbi-Wonsam's base of gold threads were estimated to have used mulberry fiber's Korean paper(Hanji) because non-wood-based fibers were observed. The X-ray spectrometer showed that the Tongsuseulan of Donggungbi-Wonsam was a flat gold thread of pure gold and Jikgeumdan of flat silver thread of its Saekdong and Hansam. High sulfur levels were detected in the flat silver thread, which appeared to have formed silver sulfide by either manufacturing process using sulfur or conservation environment. he dragon insignia's embroidery is also described as two types twisted gold threads; pure gold and alloying-gold and silver. while dragon insignia's border line is decorated with a twisted gold thread of pure gold. In particular, it was investigated that adhesives such as an animal glue, a protein-based compound by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Additionally, XRF and Raman spectroscopy analysis on the mixture substances between the metal surface and the base paper of gold threads identified talc and quartz in the gold threads and Seokganju(hematite) in the flat silver threads.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.229-237
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• 2019

More effective treatments are needed for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We hypothesized that water extracts of blackberry fruits (BF) and leaves (BL) and their combinations (BFL) reduce fat deposition in HepG2 cells and modulate shor-tchain fatty acids (SCFA) and fecal bacteria in vitro. HepG2 cells were treated with BF, BL, BFL1:2, and BFL1:3 for 1 h, and 0.5 mM palmitate was added to the cells. Moreover, low ($30{\mu}g/mL$) and high doses ($90{\mu}g/mL$) of BL and BF were applied to fecal bacteria in vitro, and SCFA was measured by GC. BL, BF, BFL1:2, and BFL1:3 reduced triglyceride deposition in the cells in a dose-dependent manner, and BFL1:2 and BFL1:3 had a stronger effect than BF. The content of malondialdehyde, an index of oxidative stress, was also reduced in BL, BF, and BFL1:2 with increasing superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities. The mRNA expression of acetyl CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c was reduced in BL, BF, BFL1:2, and BFL1:3 compared to the control, and BFL1:2 had the strongest effect. By contrast, the carnitine palmitolytransferase-1expression, a regulator of fatty acid oxidation, increased mostly in BFL1:2 and BFL1:3. Tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and interleukin-$1{\beta}$ expression was reduced in BL compared to that in BF and BFL1:2 in HepG2 cells. Interestingly, BL increased propionate production, and BF increased butyrate and propionate production and increased total SCFA content in fecal incubation. BF increased the contents of Bifidobacteriales and Lactobacillales and decreased those of Clostridiales, whereas BL elevated the contents of Bacteroidales and decreased those of Enterobacteriales. In conclusion, BFL1:2 and BFL1:3 may be potential therapeutic candidates for NAFLD.

• Mycobiology
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.66-78
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• 2022

The identification of oleaginous yeast species capable of simultaneously utilizing xylose and glucose as substrates to generate value-added biological products is an area of key economic interest. We have previously demonstrated that the Cutaneotrichosporon dermatis NICC30027 yeast strain is capable of simultaneously assimilating both xylose and glucose, resulting in considerable lipid accumulation. However, as no high-quality genome sequencing data or associated annotations for this strain are available at present, it remains challenging to study the metabolic mechanisms underlying this phenotype. Herein, we report a 39,305,439 bp draft genome assembly for C. dermatis NICC30027 comprised of 37 scaffolds, with 60.15% GC content. Within this genome, we identified 524 tRNAs, 142 sRNAs, 53 miRNAs, 28 snRNAs, and eight rRNA clusters. Moreover, repeat sequences totaling 1,032,129 bp in length were identified (2.63% of the genome), as were 14,238 unigenes that were 1,789.35 bp in length on average (64.82% of the genome). The NCBI non-redundant protein sequences (NR) database was employed to successfully annotate 11,795 of these unigenes, while 3,621 and 11,902 were annotated with the Swiss-Prot and TrEMBL databases, respectively. Unigenes were additionally subjected to pathway enrichment analyses using the Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Cluster of Orthologous Groups of proteins (COG), Clusters of orthologous groups for eukaryotic complete genomes (KOG), and Non-supervised Orthologous Groups (eggNOG) databases. Together, these results provide a foundation for future studies aimed at clarifying the mechanistic basis for the ability of C. dermatis NICC30027 to simultaneously utilize glucose and xylose to synthesize lipids.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.541-549
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• 2022

Potato late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans is a destructive disease in Korea. To elucidate the genomic variation of the mitochondrial (mt) genome, we assembled its complete mt genome and compared its sequence among different haplotypes. The mt genome sequences of four Korean P. infestans isolates were revealed by Illumina HiSeq. The size of the circular mt genome of the four major genotypes, KR_1_A1, KR_2_A2, SIB-1, and US-11, was 39,872, 39,836, 39,872, and 39,840 bp, respectively. All genotypes contained the same 61 genes in the same order, comprising two RNA-encoding genes, 16 ribosomal genes, 25 transfer RNA, 17 genes encoding electron transport and ATP synthesis, 11 open reading frames of unknown function, and one protein import-related gene, tatC. The coding region comprised 91% of the genome, and GC content was 22.3%. The haplotypes were further analyzed based on sequence polymorphism at two hypervariable regions (HVRi), carrying a 2 kb insertion/deletion sequence, and HVRii, carrying 36 bp variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs). All four genotypes carried the 2 kb insertion/deletion sequence in HVRi, whereas HVRii had two VNTRs in KR_1_A1 and SIB-1 but three VNTRs in US-11 and KR_2_A2. Minimal spanning network and phylogenetic analysis based on 5,814 bp of mtDNA sequences from five loci, KR_1_A1 and SIB-1 were classified as IIa-6 haplotype, and isolates KR_1_A2 and US-11 as haplotypes IIa-5 and IIb-2, respectively. mtDNA sequences of KR_1_A1 and SIB-1 shared 100% sequence identity, and both were 99.9% similar to those of KR_2_A2 and US-11.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the clinical features and determinants of macrolide-unresponsive Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MUMP) and to assess the differences in the time to fever resolution between doxycycline (DXC), tosufloxacin (TFX) and corticosteroid (CST) as second-line treatment. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients under the age of 18 who were admitted to Nowon Eulji University Hospital between July 2018 and February 2020, diagnosed with mycoplasma pneumonia. Macrolide resistance was confirmed by detecting point mutations in the 23S rRNA gene. MUMP was clinically defined by persistent fever (≥38.0℃) lasting for 72 hours or more after the initiation of macrolide treatment. In cases of MUMP, patients were treated with an addition of CST, or the initial macrolide was replaced either DXC or TFX. Results: Out of 157 cases of mycoplasma pneumonia, 83 cases (52.9%) did not respond to macrolides. Patients with MUMP exhibited significantly higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (3.2±3.0 vs. 2.4±2.2 mg/dL, P=0.047), more frequent lobar/segmental infiltrations or pleural effusions (56.6% vs. 27.0%, P<0.001; 6.0% vs. 0.0%, P=0.032), and a higher prevalence of 23S rRNA gene mutations (96.4% vs. 64.6%, P<0.001) when compared to those with macrolide-susceptible M. pneumoniae pneumonia. In terms of second-line treatment, 15 patients (18.1%) responded to CST, 30 (36.1%) to DXC, and 38 (45.8%) to TFX. The time to defervescence (TTD) after initiation second-line treatment was significantly shorter in the CST group compared to the DXC (10.3±12.7 vs. 19.4±17.2 hours, P=0.003) and TFX groups (10.3±12.7 vs. 25.0±20.1 hours, P=0.043), with no significant difference observed between the DXC and TFX groups (19.4±17.2 vs. 25.0±20.1 hours, P=0.262). Conclusions: High CRP levels, the presence of positive 23S rRNA gene mutation, lobar or segmental lung infiltration, and pleural effusion observed in chest X-ray findings were significant factors associated with macrolide unresponsiveness. In this study, CST demonstrated a shorter TTD compared to DXC or TFX. Further, larger-scale prospective studies are needed to determine the optimal second-line treatment for MUMP.